Page 108 of The Need to Know

The morning after, when I would do my walk of shame.

Me

I fucked up

Paisley

Oh I know

I put my phone away and sat on one of the stools at the island, just in time as Ezekiel was coming back into the room.

His hand cupped the back of my neck and trailed to my shoulder as he came by me and sat down. Next to me.

The touching was different now—intimate. It was as if he knew me, and I supposed he did. One searing gaze at my shoulder and it was like he pushed the material of his shirt back and kissed my skin there and I felt myself blush.

In another moment, Ezekiel leaned over, grabbing the edge of my stool and pulling me toward him. He came and gave me a brief, chaste kiss that sent my soul to a blissful peace.

Mmm.

“So,” he said as he settled back and forked at his plate, a proud smile on his face. He glanced at me, smirking. “How was your date?”

She ghosted me again.

When I woke up Sunday morning, the other side of my bed was empty. Running my hand along the sheets where she had laid, I found them to be cold. As I sat up, I discovered the dress shirt Nastasia had worn to bed had been discarded on the floor. Her dress was gone, as were her heels and bra. Only the remains of her panties were left.

Damn.

I had no idea what was going through her mind to make her run. Because that was exactly what she had done. It was Sunday, beyond the fact that her shop was closed for her vacation, she didn’t work Sundays. She had nowhere she needed to be. There wasn’t even a note or text to explain her disappearance.

As confused and as frustrated as I was, I decided not to stress it. I wasn’t spending the day trying to contact her again.

I got dressed and headed to the gym instead, needing to work this off. When the time came, I’d deal with this issue.

My phone rang throughout my car as I approached Phat Fitness. My touchscreen told me it was Pops, and it all came crashing back to me. I’d called Cease after my shower last night and told him I wasn’t coming in. Things felt too good with Nas to leave. I didn’t want to leave. And that wasn’t okay.

I pulled into the parking lot and sighed. What I wasn’t going to do, was run from my father.

“Hey, Pops.” I sat and answered the phone.

“You all right?” He was worried, probably thinking I was sick or something.

“Yeah.”

“Talk to me.”

Of course Pops was going to be patient, which made me feel worse.

“I’m not trying to fu—mess this up.” Even though I was doing exactly that.

“Look, you work every weekend. You have for the last seven years. I get it, it’s a big sacrifice. I’m willing to meet you halfway, Eazy. If you want days off to be with your girlfriend, let me know. Cesar talked to me about next weekend and it’s nothing to work that out. But if this is some random woman you’re just screwing around with, I can’t have that.”

I ran my hand down my face. I had to do better, but Nastasia wasn’t a “random” woman. “Chill, she got a name.”

“Okay, and what’s the word? Is there something you want to tell me?” Pops pushed on.

I spent my morning with Paisley and she set me up on this date… He’s nice…

Her words rang in my ears and I tried to ignore the sting in my chest.